Indy Road and Trail Upgrades Begin with $268 Million Boost
INDIANAPOLIS — Get ready for a lot more orange cones. The city officially kicked off construction season Thursday, with $268 million going into road, sidewalk, and trail upgrades all over Indianapolis.
This is part of a massive five-year plan to invest $1 billion into the city’s infrastructure. For 2025 alone, the Department of Public Works says $200 million will go toward fixing and improving roads, and another $68 million will help upgrade stormwater systems.
So what can you expect to see? Crews will lay down more than 130 miles of new asphalt, build 15 miles of bike lanes, add over 30 miles of trails, and rehab or install nearly 80,000 feet of sidewalks. They’re also putting in more ADA-accessible ramps, new curbs, storm sewers, and even planting over 1,000 new trees.
Mayor Joe Hogsett called the work a “game-changer,” and DPW Director Todd Wilson said it’s all part of building “Complete Streets”—roads that work better for drivers, walkers, cyclists, and people using wheelchairs or strollers.
One big focus is Madison Avenue on the south side. Neighbors in Bates-Hendricks have been speaking up about drag racing and safety concerns. The city plans to redesign that stretch and include it in the Urban Trail network to slow traffic and make things safer. If all goes to plan, work there could start in June.
This all follows a new state law that could bring in another $100 million for road funding starting in 2027—so what you’re seeing this year might just be the beginning.